ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Eric Decker hopes to play another starring role in the Denver Broncos’ hurry-up offense.

As for stealing the spotlight in an upcoming reality TV series with his wife, country singer Jessie James, well, that’s her stage. He’ll just stick to what he does best — catching passes from Peyton Manning.

Decker is coming off a season in which he caught 85 passes for 1,064 yards and 13 TDs. Those numbers figure to go down this season, with the addition of Wes Welker and the emergence of Demaryius Thomas.

Not that Decker is too concerned, even if he’s in the last season of his contract. With Manning running the show, there will be plenty of passes to go around for this version of the Broncos’ “Three Amigos.”

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have lured Ryan Lilja out of retirement, agreeing to terms with the offensive lineman Wednesday.

The Broncos are searching for a replacement at center for Dan Koppen, who is out for the season after tearing his left ACL last weekend. Manny Ramirez, who took most of the snaps at center during Denver’s offseason practices, has been filling in for Koppen the last few days in training camp.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Lilja slid over from guard to center for Kansas City last season, but announced his intention to retire after the Chiefs went 2-14.

Lilja, who turns 32 in October, has quite a bit of familiarity with Peyton Manning after playing guard for five seasons in Indianapolis.

ATLANTA (AP) — Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has left Wednesday night’s game against the Braves after aggravating his sprained right middle finger.

The injury affects Gonzalez’s ability to grip the bat. He lost the bat on his follow-through while striking out to end the first inning. The bat hit catcher Brian McCann’s shoulder. Gonzalez shook his hand in obvious pain as McCann slumped forward for a few seconds before walking to the dugout. McCann remained in the game.

DJ LeMahieu pinch-hit for Gonzalez in the fourth inning with the Braves leading 8-0.

Gonzalez threw out Dan Uggla at the plate from left field in the second inning.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL Pro Bowl rosters for next year will be selected in a draft by team captains, with Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice assisting as alumni captains. The NFL will abandon the its old AFC vs. NFC format that has been in place since 1971.

The league says fan voting will determine the players in the draft pool. The game will be played Jan. 26 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

UNDATED (AP) — Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline has passed, but the countdown to possible steroid suspensions continues.

Alex Rodriguez didn’t stop to talk with reporters after his rehabilitation session at the team’s minor league complex, two days before Major League Baseball is likely to suspend the New York Yankees third baseman for his connection to a clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Rodriguez is on track for a lengthier penalty. He could be kicked out of baseball unless he reaches an agreement. The Yankees expect him to be accused of recruiting other athletes for the clinic, attempting to obstruct MLB’s investigation, and not being truthful with MLB in the past.

A suspension would prevent Rodriguez from playing in any major or minor league games unless the penalty is stayed.

He’s the biggest name that’s in the middle of baseball’s probe of Biogenisis, the out-of-business anti-aging clinic.

Among the others who have been mentioned as part of the investigation are Padres All-Star shortstop Everth Cabrera, Tigers All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta and Toronto’s Melky Cabrera. None of them would say whether baseball plans to suspend them.

Lincoln, Neb. – Tickets for the 2013 Red/White Volleyball Scrimmage at the newly-renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center will go on sale on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The match is slated for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 and will give Husker fans their first glimpse at the new home of Nebraska volleyball.

Tickets for the match are $10 for reserved and $8 for standing room only. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets on Huskers.com, while tickets are also available by visiting the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office or calling 1-800-8-BIGRED. UNL students will receive free admission to the match, but ticket quantities are limited and students must secure a ticket in advance on Huskers.com. Current season ticket holders wishing to attend the Red/White Scrimmage will need to purchase separate tickets for this match.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have sent struggling right-hander Ian Kennedy to the San Diego Padres for left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher, a minor leaguer and a draft pick.

Kennedy, 21-4 two seasons ago, is 3-8 with a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts and hasn’t won a game in two months.

General manager Kevin Towers has said the team needed a situational left-hander in the bullpen and he got one in Thatcher, who is 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 50 games this season.

The Diamondbacks also got 23-year-old right-hander David Stites, who is 2-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 14 saves in 46 games with Double-A San Antonio.

Arizona has lost three straight and is 3½ games behind first-place Los Angeles in the NL West.

LINCOLN – Rhonda Blanford-Green, the Executive Director of the Nebraska School
Activities Association (NSAA) will be inducted in the Nebraska Black Sports Hall of
Fame on Thursday, August 1.
An Aurora, Colorado native, Blanford-Green ran track for the University of
Nebraska – Lincoln. She was an undefeated Big 8 champion in the indoor and outdoor
hurdles and an 11-time All-American for the Huskers. Following her collegiate career,
Blanford-Green was a member and team captain of several U.S. Track & Field teams
that competed internationally. Blanford-Green was named the eighth executive director
of the Nebraska School Activities Association in February of 2012.
“It is an honor to be inducted in a Hall of Fame that recognizes the
accomplishments of minorities who have made and continue to make a difference in the
field of athletics,” said Blanford-Green. “My life path has been shaped through my
involvement with dedicated family, coaches, teachers, mentors, peers and teammates
and honors such as these are never individual but always shared.”
Blanford-Green, along with 11 other athletes will be the 8th class inducted into the
Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame.

(Peru, Neb.) – A 6’2 post, MaKayla Gardner (Dickens) recently became the fifth recruit for the Peru State women’s basketball program for 2013-14 as announced by Bobcat head coach Joan Albury.
The junior post, a graduate of Wallace High School, played the last two seasons at Southeast Community College-Beatrice under co-head coaches Vicki and Joel Wooton.

Gardner averaged 6.6 points per game while grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Gardner averaged a Storm team-high 0.9 blocks per game. From the floor, Gardner shot 49.7 percent, also a team-high for Southeast CC. The storm finished the season with a 19-12 record.
The daughter of Bobby and Amy Gardner plans to major in Psychology and/or Sports and Exercise
Science at Peru State.
Albury was pleased with Gardner’s signing and said, “MaKayla helps bring a strong, inside presence for
the Bobcat team. We look forward to getting MaKayla and all of her teammates on the court this fall for
practice.”

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Tickets are now on sale for Chadron State College’s game against West Texas A&M on Sept. 12 in the Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Fans can purchase tickets and festival passes from Ticketmaster. Tickets can be bought through Chadron State beginning Thursday by calling (308) 432-6240 .

Single-day tickets purchased through TicketMaster cost $25 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under. Chadron State has 200 discounted adult tickets available for $20 and 100 tickets for students available for $10.

The Chadron State alumni office is coordinating a private tour of Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 12. The cost is $20. For information, call Karen Pope at (308) 432-6366 or email her at [email protected].